Signs ERP is Working

Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD shares how to know that ERP is working and what progress may look like.
This video was originally created by the Peace of Mind Foundation which is now part of the International OCD Foundation. Learn more about the IOCDF’s Peace of Mind Virtual Community at iocdf.org/peaceofmind.

[@madjidtlm7666]

True it's happening to me thank you

[@levostapchuk9422]

good day! Tell me, if there is some kind of addiction in a relationship, could it be with relationship OCD? My girlfriend can joke and tease me, before, at most, I could take offense a little and forget about it. And now any such joke severely offends and annoys me. Although I know that even despite this, she sits with me and loves me. Supports, affectionately calls. Do not mock, does not prohibit anything. But I'm fixated on quarrels as she called me names, although before that I didn't really care. And that only makes my OCD worse.

[@scottcummings8602]

I'm 6 weeks into ERP therapy and so far... no help whatsoever. Are we sure this is the "gold standard" for treatment? I'm going to have to find another solution as ERP sessions drain my bank account, and that's about it. I unfortunately can't recommend.

[@jamespettersson9655]

Scott half the battle is knowing the thoughts aren't true, you cant let OCD give you the old, oh just do this one more time and everything will be right because it never is, it actually makes things worse, what works for me is if i have a compulsion i just say to ocd okay i will do it tomorrow morning i just cant today and i just keep putting it off, its like the alcoholic saying one day at a time, we are in a fight but it is a winnable one, don't give up.

[@jagboy69]

Scott, I don't normally do this, so give me a chance here. I have a wife with a severe case of contamination based OCD and trust me, it's really hard dealing with this. I'm in a town with a handful of so called experts and something I have learned is the shrinks DO NOT WANT OCD PATIENTS! I've fired 3 so far and I'm about to fire the 4th one that is supposedly helping her. Yes, I too have spent a ton of money trying to get her help. The best therapist you will ever find is YOURSELF! You must learn the principles of ERP and put them to work for you daily or even hourly if you have to. I'm a commercial pilot myself and I remember the first time the wheels left the ground. I nearly shat myself and thought WTF am I doing! I was anxious as hell at that moment. But after continually exposing myself to taking an airplane up, that feeling went away and now I look forward to every takeoff! That in it's simplest form is ERP. The goal is to purposely *EXPOSE* yourself to whatever it is and *RESPOND* differently! In time, you will retrain that amygdala to not respond to something that is perfectly normal. You can do it! But you must become your own therapist in the process first! I would suggest looking up John Glanvill here on YT. He teaches how the unconscious brain works in the background. All the best!

[@gabrieldiaz7236]

Make sure your therapist truly understands OCD and erp. I know the only reason a thought bothers you is because of the emotion ties to it. It's not the thought that is the problem, it's not even the emotion. It's how you respond to it. When you go in your head looking for answers, trying to make yourself feel better, your making it worse. It sends the message to the brain that your scared so your brain keeps getting energized and sends you more emotions and thoughts. A good therapist will teach you how to not try and escape the images, thoughts, feelings ect. You will have to learn to accept those things and not try to make yourself feel better. I know sounds awful. But eventually you will get desensitized to the ideas and your brain will stop acting up with anxiety. It works. It's hard. Look up articles by Dr. Steven Phillipson. It's hard to do but there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

[@darzphonegraves3705]

I won't do it. It's brainwashing!